The pair engaged in a static shootout over three rounds, with Casey (7-5 MMA, 3-4 UFC) fighting tall and Herrig (14-6 MMA, 5-1 UFC) punching her way inside. It was a close fight, but judges ultimately decided Herrig did more and awarded her a split decision.

The women’s strawweight bout was part of the preliminary card of today’s UFC 218 event at the new Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit. It aired on FS1 following additional prelims on UFC Fight Pass and ahead of a main card on pay-per-view.

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Two of three judges gave Herrig the fight with a 29-28 tally. One dissented for Casey with the same score. Herrig’s win upped her current win streak to four, while Casey dropped back following a decision over Jessica Aguilar in May.

Much of the scoring centered around Herrig’s boxing attack, simply because there wasn’t much else that was significant. Early on, she found success closing the distance and ducking under Casey’s punches to uncork a left hook. Several times she met Casey’s right hand or check left hook. The two traded leg kicks in a call and response rhythm.

The only detours from that pattern came in the first round, when Casey lit up Herrig as she charged forward, prompting Herrig to secure a body lock and take the fight to the mat. There, she stalled on top, and Casey took the initiative with a kimura threat that allowed her to reverse. In the third, with both corners doing their best to pump up their fighters, Herrig stuck out her tongue at Casey, prompting outstretched arms from the Hawaii native. A middle finger followed for Herrig.

Not content to let those offenses stand, Herrig initiated an attack and briefly was swept to the mat, with a knee to the head greeting her rise. Casey, sporting a shiner under her left eye, celebrated what she thought was a clear victory.

Instead, at the decision, Casey reacted in shock as Herrig cheered her fourth consecutive win.